On Deck with Young Musicians
As of March 2025, On Deck with Young Musicians is no longer producing new episodes. This program featured inspirational interviews that celebrate and showcase the incredibly talented young musicians who live and perform in the Pacific Northwest: the young people who are shaping the future of classical music. The archive below features episodes hosted by Christa Wessel, Adam Eccleston, Raúl Gómez-Rojas, Jahlysa Azaret, and Lisa Lipton.
April 24, 2021
On Deck with Macy Gong
In this episode of On Deck, Raúl Gómez-Rojas chats with flutist Macy Gong, a 15-year-old freshman at Oregon Episcopal School and a member of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Macy began studying the flute at the age of 6 and is now a student of Sydney Carlson. She has won many awards, including 2nd place in …
April 17, 2021
On Deck with Issa Okamoto
In this episode of “On Deck,” Amy Faust gets to know Issa Okamoto, a 17 year old coloratura soprano who serves as Executive Director of Portland Concert Opera. Issa arrived in Portland from New York City at age four with her mom and sisters, already possessing a voice so strong that her screams had caused …
April 10, 2021
On Deck with Irie Page
Raúl Gómez-Rojas chats with Irie Page, a 17-year-old singer and actor with an already impressive résumé. Irie sang with Oregon Repertory Singers Youth Choir for 10 years and is now a Marian Singer at St. Mary’s Academy, where she is a junior. Additionally, Irie is a prolific young theatre performer: she is a “Young Professional” …
March 27, 2021
On Deck with Kelson Gipp
In this installment of “On Deck,” Raúl Gómez-Rojas chats with 18-year-old French horn player Kelson Gipp, a member of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and his school band at the Ida B. Wells High School in Portland, OR. When he is not practicing horn or exploring his interests related to math and sciences, Kelson is out …
February 27, 2021
On Deck with Avery Hsieh
Avery Hsieh, a Corvallis native, is currently a freshman studying Violin Performance at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. In this episode of “On Deck,” she speaks with Raúl Gómez-Rojas about her passion for the two instruments that she has played since she was little (violin and piano). Avery also shares about the Intermezzo Project, …
February 20, 2021
On Deck with Bella Klucevek
Amy Faust gets to know Bella Klucevek, a junior at Jesuit High School who sings soprano with their chamber choir as well as with Pacific Youth Choir. Bella is the only musically active member of her family, but her parents noticed her love of singing before she was old enough to talk. A member of …
February 13, 2021
On Deck with Galilea Rios Schulz
Raúl Gómez-Rojas chats with Galilea Rios Schulz, a 17-year-old violinist with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Music has always been a part of Galilea’s life, dating all the way back to her dad playing guitar and ukulele for her as a baby. She has been with MYS for the past eight years, and has been a …
February 6, 2021
On Deck with Lydia Downs
In this episode of “On Deck,” Christa Wessel chats with violinist Lydia Downs. Lydia is a senior at Cleveland High School, and is slated to graduate as one of the valedictorians of her class. Lydia is a member of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and though COVID has made participation challenging (recording at home -individually- with a click-track), she finds great reward in the final …
January 30, 2021
On Deck with Addison Domenigoni
Addison Domenigoni, a 17-year-old junior from Clackamas High School, chats with Raúl Gómez about her biggest passion: choral singing. Addison has been a member of Pacific Youth Choir since sixth grade, and has participated in several collaborations of PYC with the Oregon Symphony, including performances of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 and Stravinsky’s Persephone. Addison …
January 23, 2021
On Deck with Ella Dorsey
Amy Faust gets to know Ella Dorsey, a versatile musician who plays classical bass with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony. A 15-year-old sophomore at Clackamas High School, Ella has grown up in a musical household with a dad who plays slap bass for western swing bands and a mom who performs with a variety of bands …
